68Ga-FAPI PET/CT in Malignant Tumors

Summary

Fibroblast-activation protein (FAP) is a type Ⅱ transmembrane serine protease and is overexpressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). CAFs are the predominant component in the stroma of epithelial neoplasms. FAP can be detected in various of malignant neoplasms and is associated to tumor cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. Recently, a novel molecular probe, gallium 68-labelled FAP inhibitor (68Ga-FAPI), has been developed and used for visualization of tumor stroma by targeting FAP. Recent studies show favorable diagnosis efficiency in a variety of tumors, especially in gastrointestinal cancer, but the previous studies were all small-sample data or case reports. Therefore, further large-size research is necessary to confirm the advantages of 68Ga-FAPI in various of malignant tumors.

Timeline

Start

2021-02-23

Primary completion

2025-12-31

Completion

2025-12-31

Publications

• Background Kratochwil C, Flechsig P, Lindner T, Abderrahim L, Altmann A, Mier W, Adeberg S, Rathke H, Rohrich M, Winter H, Plinkert PK, Marme F, Lang M, Kauczor HU, Jager D, Debus J, Haberkorn U, Giesel FL. 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT: Tracer Uptake in 28 Different Kinds of Cancer. J Nucl Med. 2019 Jun;60(6):801-805. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.119.227967. Epub 2019 Apr 6.
• Background Pang Y, Zhao L, Luo Z, Hao B, Wu H, Lin Q, Sun L, Chen H. Comparison of 68Ga-FAPI and 18F-FDG Uptake in Gastric, Duodenal, and Colorectal Cancers. Radiology. 2021 Feb;298(2):393-402. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2020203275. Epub 2020 Dec 1.
• Li H, Li C, Tian Y, Xiao Z, Xing D, He Y. Same-day dual-tracer PET/CT imaging with [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 following [18F]FDG finds answers in patients presenting with negative or equivocal [18F]FDG. Ann Nucl Med. 2025 Nov;39(11):1237-1248. doi: 10.1007/s12149-025-02080-1. Epub 2025 Jul 4.
• Jiang Y, Yu Z, Sun Y, Tian Y, Wang L, Xing D, Huang Y, He Y, Jia J. Predictive value of [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT on pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy for locally advanced resectable oral squamous cell carcinoma. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2025 Dec;53(1):283-294. doi: 10.1007/s00259-025-07414-9. Epub 2025 Jun 23.
• Jiang Y, Huang S, Tian Y, Xing D, Xiao Z, Huang J, He Y. Dual-Time Point 68 Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT Improves Tumor Delineation and Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis Identification in Patients With Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Clin Nucl Med. 2025 Mar 1;50(3):e130-e137. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000005610. Epub 2024 Dec 13.
• Chen J, Xu K, Li C, Tian Y, Li L, Wen B, He C, Cai H, He Y. [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT in the evaluation of epithelial ovarian cancer: comparison with [18F]F-FDG PET/CT. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2023 Nov;50(13):4064-4076. doi: 10.1007/s00259-023-06369-z. Epub 2023 Aug 1.

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